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(03/05/09 2:08am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Banks suck. If there’s anything we’ve learned during this economic crisis, it’s that. But the sobering picture painted by “The International” is one that will make you take all your assets and bury them in a hole.The film follows Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) in their crusade to take down the elusive and uber-powerful International Bank of Business and Credit. As the two criss-cross the globe gathering evidence, they’re detoured at every turn through shady circumstances.If nothing else, “The International” is surely relevant to our current state of affairs. It seems that a bank couldn’t control the world as easily as depicted here, but recent events make the film feel like a prognostication. At times, the film feels like a James Bond riff, as Owen’s character traipses around the world investigating evil foreigners. The on-location shoots are beautiful, but it feels a tad showy. The characters are also paper-thin, as we’re given three minutes of backstory on Owen’s character and next to nothing on Watts’. Her character is absolutely pointless, and the script proves it by having her stay out for the last 20 minutes. This is Owen’s show and he brings it as usual, but it’s hard to bring layers to a character written without any.Though it features a compelling macro story and an absolutely tremendous shootout two-thirds of the way through, “The International” struggles with character development and ultimately stalls in the climax.
(02/27/09 2:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The search for Atlantis continues. But should it?The United Kingdom-based publication The Sun released a report that the lost civilization of Atlantis, a locale Plato believed to have perished suddenly around 12,000 years ago, had been found – and on Google Earth, no less.The Google Ocean extension showed very interesting grid lines in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, 620 miles off the west coast of Africa somewhere near the Canary Islands – which just happened to be the location Plato blabbed about all those years ago.But sadly, the gridlines happened to be just that – lines used by the program to scour and map out the ocean. At this point, Atlantis remains undiscovered and a mystery to most people. So why are we so interested it? How, during an economic disaster that demands our attention, did this story make its way to the forefront?Probably more than most people, I love world mysteries and tales of suspicious, powerful races now long gone, but the ancient story lacks any evidence that would normally give story like Alantis legs. At least with UFOs or, heck, even Big Foot, there’s some marginally attractive evidence that would make us think twice.Not Atlantis.Not to discredit Plato or anything, but he was the first and only person to ever reference Atlantis during its introduction into the human psyche. That means every story reported, passage written and discourse held on the subject stems from one man’s writings – writings that scholars aren’t quite sure are fiction or non-fiction, as many look at its creation as Plato’s metaphorical way of depicting ancient Athens.Yet for some odd reason, people have been obsessed with this mythical locale ever since and if this recent story is any indication, will continue to be so until some answers are given. It even attracted the Nazis during their reign, as Henirich Himmler had a team thoroughly investigate Tibet in 1938 because the Nazis thought the Aryan race must have begun in Atlantis. They didn’t find a thing. At this point, the story of Atlantis has been mutated and riffed so many times that it seems like every time some sort of geological discovery takes place in a body of water, we target in on Atlantis. It’s near the islands of Santorini in the Mediterranean Sea, somewhere in the North Sea, in the Bermuda Triangle and Antarctica.If Atlantis is found, I’ll be the first person to admit I was wrong. Sure, a discovery like that could tell us loads about ancient civilizations and open up numerous other research avenues.It is just difficult to see the value in placing hope of each discovery to this supposedly lost society. There are surely more important things to be looking for – and definitely more important things to be talking about.
(02/26/09 3:46am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>To most people, the beginning of March brings thoughts of warmer weather and spring, but for me, it’s survival time. It’s about that time for networks to begin planning for the ’09-’10 new season, and for shows on the bubble, panic sets in. Therefore, this week I’m going to suggest four shows that should be checked out immediately. If you don’t, chances are they won’t be around this fall – tell all your friends.What to watchSHOW: “Reaper”EPISODE: “Episode IV: A New Hope”WHEN: 8 p.m. Tuesday on the CWThough it had anemic ratings last season and doesn’t fit into the CW’s target demographic, “Reaper” somehow clawed its way to a second year. The show, which follows a twenty-something slacker who learns he has to be the Devil’s bounty hunter, is just now premiering and sadly has to go up against “American Idol.” Not many people will watch, but they should. “Reaper” is the second best show on the CW and one of the 10 best-written hour-longs on broadcast television. SHOW: “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”EPISODE: “Ourselves Alone”WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday on FOXTelevision shows based on past material rarely work, but “Terminator” is one of the most glaring exceptions. After a strong first season ratings-wise, the show failed miserably to attract an audience on Mondays in the fall, and FOX moved it to Fridays. Now the clock is ticking – especially after the first few Friday airings had pathetic numbers – and the chances of the show coming back are oh so slim. But nevertheless, this episode remains a must-watch due to its emphasis on the female terminator Cameron, arguably the show’s most interesting character. What to TiVoSHOW: “Life on Mars”EPISODE: “Revenge of Broken Jaw”WHEN: 10 p.m. Wednesday on ABCThe post-“Lost” timeslot has done nothing to help this time travel-tinged story get off the ground – ratings since the move to behind “Lost” have dipped – but that doesn’t keep “Mars” from being one of the most interesting hours of the week. Backed by tremendous costume, art and music departments, the show seemingly gets all the retro 1970s stuff right. Not to mention the slow-burn reveal of the time travel elements keep the intrigue high. Yet, if no one watches, we’ll never find out how Sam Tyler gets home. SHOW: “Friday Night Lights”EPISODE: “New York, New York”WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday on NBCSure, I’ve asked for your attention on Friday twice in this column, but these shows need it. “Friday Night Lights” has been taking the slow waltz towards the executioner since Season one, and a deal with DirecTV is the only thing that’s kept it on the air this long. The ratings this season aren’t that bad considering low expectations, but this episode, featuring the last regular appearance of Jason Street (Scott Porter), is a must-watch whenever you get to it. “Friday Night Lights” is the best straight drama on television, no question. Rant of the weekThough not on the verge of cancellation, Jimmy Fallon’s foray into late-night television begins this week. Fallon, who is taking Conan O’Brien’s place on “Late Night,” has never been that funny, but fared marginally well while hosting various MTV awards shows. Clearly, Fallon is not as funny as Conan, but no one would have ever guessed he would have made it this long or that he would go on to replace Jay Leno (well, sort of). So I guess we owe Jimmy the same patience because it will take a while for him to find his footing. It will be rough going to start, but at least it won’t be as bad as Chevy Chase’s late-night talk show.
(02/19/09 2:58am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>It is time for some major events this week on TV. Look for two non-TV show programs to dominate the week: the 81st Academy Awards and President Barack Obama’s address to Congress. One will be exciting and informative, and one will be boring and depressing. At this point, it’s unclear which is which.What to watchSHOW: 81st Academy AwardsWHEN: 8:30 p.m. Sunday on ABCThe Oscars get the watercooler talk going like no other award show, and this year should be no different. Though some of the major category nominees are slightly sketchy – I’m looking at you, “The Reader” – there is enough star power to get audiences to tune in. All the attention will be on Heath Ledger, “Slumdog Millionaire” and the Best Actor category, but I’m sure there will be a surprise or two that will have the industry buzzing Monday morning.SHOW: “24”EPISODE: “5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.”WHEN: 9 p.m. Monday on FOXLook, “24” will never regain the creative spark the show had in its early years, but this season is more impressive that the piss-poor effort fans had to wade through in season six. We’ve seen the plot threads that are playing out right now all before – the information leaks, debates over torture and Jack Bauer invincibly killing baddies with ease – but there is just enough glaze of newness to make the show one hell of a ride week to week.What to TiVoSHOW: “Lost”EPISODE: “The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham”WHEN: 9 p.m. Wednesday on ABC“Lost” becomes the first show to make a repeat performance in the column – and for good reason. As the title of this episode suggest, this super-sized outing will tail Locke during his post-donkey, wheel-turning adventures, all the way up to his suspicious death that propelled Jack to attempt suicide and drunkenly scream at Kate. Along the way expect appearances from the extremely creepy Mathew Abaddon and the always-intriguing Walt.SHOW: “Eastbound and Down”EPISODE: “Chapter 2”WHEN: 10:30 p.m. Sunday on HBOThis high-profile laughter with major talent behind it – Will Ferrell produces, Danny McBride stars – will pick up even more buzz when Ferrell steps in to guest star as an owner of a car dealership. The show, which follows McBride as a washed-up baseball player returning to his hometown to teach at his old middle school, is getting mixed reviews, but Ferrell’s appearance in the second episode is enough to make me want to watch it sometime through the week.Rant of the WeekHat tip to FOX for trying to build a block of sci-fi programming on Fridays with the “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” and “Dollhouse” tandem, even if it is off to a rough start. “Terminator” moved over from Mondays to a 27 percent ratings decrease and “Dollhouse” premiered with a thin 4.7 million viewers and 2.0 share of the coveted 18-49 demographic when the two began airing together last week.Fans may be up in arms about how FOX is trying to “kill” the shows by moving the shows to the Friday night death slot, but FOX didn’t have much choice. Its schedule is jam-packed with ratings monsters like “American Idol,” “House” and “Lie to Me,” so there was no other night. Not to mention, both shows have had their issues – “Terminator” had horrible ratings on Mondays and “Dollhouse” is a creative train wreck – so FOX is smart by keeping risk and expectations low.It may upset the online fanboys, but neither of these shows will be back next season. And it’s not because FOX put them on a weak night.
(02/19/09 2:40am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Rock supergroups are usually bad ideas. They can be panned for smelling of desperation or fall apart because egos override the music.But Two Tongues, emo-punk’s first supergroup, featuring members of scene giants Say Anything and Saves The Day, come together seamlessly on their self-titled debut, even if the results are uneven.If there were ever two influential vocalists perfect for each another, it has to be Max Bemis and Chris Conley. Bemis’ raspy drawl and Conley’s high-pitched whine tightly hug each another throughout each track, leading to fantastic dynamism.The record begins with the emotionally laced “Crawl,” “If I Could Make You Do Things” and “Dead Lizard,” but after that wonderful intro, it falters and becomes ultimately uneven due to surprisingly poor lyrics.Both Bemis and Conley are great writers in their own right, but here the lyrics are broad, weak and uninteresting. Chorus lines like “Because I need you here with me / I need you to see me / It’s only a dream to me” (from “Tremors”) wouldn’t cut it on a PCD track, but that’s the hackneyed effort seen here.Even enjoyable tracks like “Wowee Zowee” are hampered by feeble lyricism (“You shut me out / I won’t let you go / Well you shut me down”). The vocal prowess of Bemis and Conley keep the album afloat amongst boring songs (“Even If You Don’t,” “Silly Game”) that wouldn’t even make it to B-Side status in their real bands’ catalogs, but it’s not enough.Two Tongues’ foray into supergroup territory isn’t Velvet Revolver-bad, but just like any, ultimately fails to meet the hype or substance of two bands on their own.Say Anything and Saves The Day will go down as legends in emo history, but it’s hard to imagine Two Tongues as anything more than a footnote to that story.
(02/13/09 2:47am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Coming to movie theaters near you: “Candy Land: The Movie.”I wish I had just made that up, but it’s true. Universal Studios is financing a feature-length film based on the popular children’s board game. This has to stop. Hollywood is clearly creatively retarded and has reached a point where any new development announcement that does not say “remake,” “reboot” or “based on” is shocking. And though people have been taking the film and TV studios to task for years for failing to create many original ideas, it really seems out of control in 2009.One quick look at the films that aired trailers during the Super Bowl – a usual sign that audiences are supposed to think of them as “major” events – and reveals a startling lack of original material. Of those films, seven are either sequels, remakes or adaptations: “G.I. Joe” (based on toys), “Transformers 2” (ditto), “Race to Witch Mountain” (remake), “Star Trek” (reboot/sequel), “Fast & Furious” (sequel), “Land of the Lost” (TV series remake) and “Angels & Demons” (adaptation). The other major movies of 2009, “Watchmen,” “Terminator Salvation,” “Wolverine” and the sixth “Harry Potter” are not original ideas, either.On the television side of things, adaptations and reboots are happening occasionally – the CW is planning a “Melrose Place” reboot, CBS has an “NCIS” spin-off – but the major issue there is plain-old lame ideas. The new crop of shows being developed for the 2009-10 season are chock-full of cops, lawyers and doctors. Two-thirds of the shows in development feature the only three professions that seem to exist in Hollywood.The industry could use the slugging economy and ever-changing technology as an excuse – advertising revenues have disappeared, ratings have slipped in TV and major media conglomerates like Disney and Time Warner are reporting monstrous financial losses – but this has been going on for much longer than that.Instead, I partly blame on audiences. Whenever the entertainment industry decided to feed us garbage, people made the wrong choice in simply accepting it. Hollywood consistently looks down on its audience and aspires to appeal to the lowest common denominator. But by making “Transformers” one of the highest-grossing films of 2007 and accepting a slew of “CSI” spin-offs, we let them.Now, in a time of economic, political and social unrest, we can only expect more products made on the cheap with built-in name recognition and hopes of providing an “escape.”But now is the time for us to stop this evil cycle. If the movie-going public is strapped for cash and more picky with its film choices, maybe we won’t have drivel shoved down our throats. If TV audiences turn on their brains and clamor for heady shows like they did post-9/11, horrendous reality- and product-fueled programs like “Knight Rider” won’t make it to the air.Don’t let Hollywood insult your intelligence anymore.
(02/12/09 1:52am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>We’ve hit that time of the year when networks give their shows a little break to tune up before the final push. Audiences are looking at a two- to four-week window without all of their favorites airing new episodes. Slim pickings this week, folks.What to watchSHOW: “The Amazing Race”EPISODE: “Don’t Let a Cheese Hit Me”WHEN: 8 p.m. Sunday on CBSEven after 13 seasons, “The Amazing Race” still remains the best reality show on television without question. There’s no reason to think that the 14th season will be any different, and the premiere will be a television event. This season’s star team looks to be Hollywood writer/actor Mike White (“School of Rock”) and his father Mel. SHOW: “Dollhouse”EPISODE: “Target”WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday on FOXTomorrow night’s premiere episode of the much-talked-about Joss Whedon-genre hodgepodge program about agents with programmed personalities should have been in the column last week, and the second episode must be seen too. There have been so many stories about the behind-the-scenes drama – the original pilot was moved here, but was scrapped for this story that was originally the third episode – but in the least, this is going to be one of the most interesting shows on network television. Yeah, it’s a Friday night, but no one cool goes out before 10 p.m., anyway. What to TiVoSHOW: “Chuck”EPISODE: “Chuck Versus the Suburbs”WHEN: 8 p.m. Monday on NBCMonday nights are a hot mess for TV viewers, and even great shows have to be regulated to TiVo status. “Chuck” is the best hour-long property NBC has, and hopefully the recent ratings bump for the 3-D episode will carry over. This episode features guest stars Andy Richter and Jenny McCarthy, and probably some great scenes with Chuck and Sarah as an undercover married couple. If you’re looking for a fun escape and have a free hour, check out “Chuck” – you won’t be disappointed.SHOW: “The Mentalist”EPISODE: “Scarlett Fever”WHEN: 9 pm. Tuesday on CBSSure, it’s a complete riff of “Psych” watered down for the older CBS audiences. But man, is “The Mentalist” enjoyable. Simon Baker is one of the most charismatic actors on television and his quirky Patrick Jane has helped the show become the only standout hit on network TV in the past three years. The procedural cases aren’t anything to write home about, but in a slow week like this one, “The Mentalist” is the perfect way to waste an hour. Rant of the weekA giant middle finger to the CW, which has taken its pandering to teen girl audiences to a whole new low with two recent announcements. First, it has officially greenlit yet another remake of a ’90s FOX hit, this time dipping into the “Melrose Place” well. Even worse, the network has somehow pried Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer away from their showrunner jobs at “Smallville,” a show it finally turned around in its eighth season, to helm the pathetic reboot. The network then ordered a pilot based on L.J. Smith’s “Vampire Diaries” book series scribed by “Dawson’s Creek” creator Kevin Williamson. The books are nothing more than an attempt to cash in on the success of the “Twilight” series. Williamson hasn’t written anything good since the “Creek” pilot in 1996, so you connect the dots. At this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if the CW is gone within three years. It’s OK to have a target demographic for the network that your tentpole shows appeal to, but it’s absolutely insane to fill your schedule with shows that do exactly the same thing. Diversify or die, CW.
(02/05/09 3:21am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This time of year is usually designated for February sweeps where the networks trot out all sorts of stunts, hoping for major ratings to impress the advertising industry. But with the digital TV transition taking place Feb. 17, the industry made the smart move to push sweeps back until March. That doesn’t mean there won’t be a slew of great programming this week. WHAT TO WATCHSHOW: “How I Met Your Mother” EPISODE: “The Stinsons” WHEN: 8:30 p.m. Monday on CBSAfter four years of awesomeness from Barney, audiences should really never be surprised when he does something insane. This week’s episode will show that Barney actually has a faux family on payroll for any time that his mother ( Francis Conroy, “Six Feet Under”) comes calling. Luckily for us, it looks like Barney is forced to take both his pay-as-you-go family and his gang of friends to see his mom.SHOW: “Damages” EPISODE: “A Pretty Girl in a Leotard”WHEN: 10 p.m. Wednesday on FX Season Two of “Damages” might not have the mystique of its initial run, but the stories have been just as strong. In this episode, watch for Patty to take a strong look at Walter Kendrick – played to perfection by John Doman from “The Wire” – for the murder of Purcell’s wife. Meanwhile, Ellen will continue to figure out exactly what the hell happened to her fiance David, both for herself and for the FBI. WHAT TO TIVOSHOW: “Survivor: Tocantins – The Brazilian Highlands”EPISODE: “Episode 1” WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday on CBS Can you believe this will be the 18th season of “Survivor”? And even as horrible as most of the reality television spawned from its success has been, “Survivor” is still good. For the most part, the success of each season is based on the cast, so it’s crucial to watch the first episode. SHOW: “Scrubs” EPISODE: “My Comedy Show” WHEN: 9:30 p.m. Tuesday on ABC The move to ABC has been a breath of fresh air for “Scrubs,” as the eighth season has been a return to form featuring less broad humor and more of the emotional resonance that defined its early years. Yet, this season has been somewhat Turk-light, or at least J.D.-Turk bromance–light. This episode – where the two closest friends on TV get their interns to be a part of a lame sketch comedy performance – should change that. RANT OF THE WEEKI know the Internet has given everyone free reign to speak his or her mind, but the incessant online hate for the new team – and specifically Thirteen – on “House” is out of control. Supposed fans of the show have been whining about the increased focus on Thirteen and her battle with Huntington’s disease for too long, and I just don’t get it.When the writing staff made the decision to break up the original team after three years, they took a risk, but it was an intelligent one that paid off completely. The writers saw it as insulting for viewers to have to sit through six or seven years of Cameron-Chase-Foreman stories without anything new, so they mixed it up. Now that the new team is getting its time in the spotlight just like the original did, the focus has moved away from Cameron and Chase, which does suck. But I guarantee they’ll be back in a more powerful role at least by next season. Thirteen might be getting a bit too much focus, and her story isn’t the most exciting, but not all of Cameron’s stories were tremendous either.
(01/30/09 3:50am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The digital revolution is coming, and surprisingly, we’re not ready.Though President Obama called for a delay of the digital television transition from Feb. 17 to June 12 and the Senate passed the bill, the House voted it down, giving Americans less than one month to get ready. And that’s not going to be enough time.While a good portion of the House was opposed to the decision because of worries there would be a delay of the plan Congress decreed in 2005 – which has been thought of as a priority since the late 1990s – it will only make uninformed consumers even more confused. There are too many issues working against the February date to go through with the transition.Too many people are still in the dark. Even with the incessant commercials and public service announcements that have been running since last year, somehow people still don’t know that if they get TV signals from an antenna, they’ll need a converter box.Fourteen million people will need a converter, and 65 percent of the population is unclear of exactly what they’re getting or why they even need it. That accounts for only 53 percent of the government-sponsored vouchers for $40 towards a converter box – which could cost up to $100 – being used at this moment.Even worse, the budget set aside for this program is maxed out at about $1.34 billion, which is actually preventing the people who do know what’s going on from getting their vouchers soon enough. A waitlist exists with more than 103,000 people on it, and the government is looking for ways to get those vouchers printed. All in all, we’re looking to at least 7.7 million households unprepared for the transition and an entire infrastructure plan in shambles. And they shouldn’t have pushed this back?It’s absolutely possible that the extended time table could have led to more confusion, but the new administration seems dedicated to getting the word out about the conversion. Chances are it will take more lame public service announcements and informational pieces on the nightly news, but at this point, if we’re going to make the switch, the government is going to have to clean up the mess.Looking at it now, it’s clear that the American people didn’t take this transition as seriously as they should have. The vouchers have been available and the media has been beating the message into the ground, but people just haven’t gotten around to buying the box. Hopefully, the disagreement and discussion of this news will be the catalyst that gets them to do so. The deadline extension on DTV transition would have been costly, but eventually worth it. The extra space for Internet access in underdeveloped areas and the nationwide public safety network that would allow emergency crews and first responders to communicate more easily during emergencies seem to be good things. Now we’re looking at millions of people confused and without television in a month. It might have been their fault, but politics shouldn’t have kept the government from doing what was right.
(01/29/09 10:00pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Groundbreaking studio tricks, an elaborate cover image and a slew of drug references. That didn’t quite sound like The Beatles when they recorded “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in 1966-67, but the results were nothing short of fantastic. It’s hard not to be hyperbolic when speaking of it, but that verbiage fits the record Rolling Stone named the greatest of all time.This is an album that was groundbreaking on countless levels. Though the songs don’t all tie into the concept fully as originally planned, this was the first successful attempt at a “concept record” that so many artists try to emulate today. By the time “Sgt. Pepper” was recorded, the Fab Four’s musical tastes had expanded, leading to wide-ranging appearances from the sitar (“Within You Without You”), tamboura (“Getting Better”), grand piano (“A Day In The Life”) and the Lowrey organ (“Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”).The three-track run after the title-track intro of “With A Little Help From My Friends,” “Lucy in the Sky” and “Getting Better” create a fantastic short sequence of music. “Friends” is powered by Ringo Starr’s starring vocal turn; “Lucy” is a sonic dream that changes directions so much that the LSD tag must be true; and “Better” is a pop treat in the midst of all the psychedelic mania.But if there’s one song that defines this album, it has to be the epic closer, “A Day In The Life.” Personified by the contrast between Lennon’s and McCartney’s verses, “Life” is both beautiful and haunting. “Sgt. Pepper” is a psychedelic hot mess of amazing. “Please Please Me” and “With The Beatles” were made by teen idols. This is an album made by musicians.
(01/29/09 4:51am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>This coming week is a big one for TV with the Super Bowl on Sunday. NBC has the highest-rated TV event of the season this year, and it looks like a big week for them altogether. Obviously the Super Bowl is a must-see, so we’re just going to ignore that. Here are four shows to get through the post-Bowl hangover. What to watchSHOW: “The Office” EPISODE: “Stress Relief” WHEN: Sunday after the Super Bowl on NBC Each year the program that gets the coveted post-Bowl spot is the network’s choice for most promising, so it’s no shocker that NBC has chosen “The Office.” In this one-hour episode, look for special appearances by Jack Black and Jessica Alba and a roast of Michael Scott. While “The Office” struggles with hour-long episodes and the stunt casting is disheartening, it’s impossible to imagine that this will not be hilarious. SHOW: “Friday Night Lights” EPISODE: “Hello, Goodbye” WHEN: Friday at 9 p.m. on NBC Though buried on Friday nights, it’s still good to have “Lights” around for another season, especially after watching episodes like this one. Here we’ll see the final appearance by Smash, who after injuring his knee in the playoffs last season is still looking for a college. Coach Taylor has been pushing Smash to rehab in the first few episodes and it will pay off here. What to TiVoSHOW: “Smallville” EPISODE: “Requiem” WHEN: Thursday at 8 p.m. on the CW If you’ve kept up with Clark Kent’s journey for all eight years – and chances are you haven’t – this is not an episode to miss. After seven years of “will they or won’t they” that clearly meant nothing because the comic mythology says they don’t and a five-episode guest run this year, Lana Lang finally says goodbye to Clark. She’s held up Superman-to-be for long enough, but hopefully the show sends Lana out on a good note. SHOW: “Heroes” EPISODE: “A Clear and Present Danger” WHEN: Monday at 9 p.m. on NBC Alright, this is seriously the show’s last chance. I said last week “Heroes” should be cancelled, but I’m giving it one more chance to prove me wrong. This episode kicks off the newest volume entitled “Fugitives,” which is supposed to reset the show in reality. There are some interesting threads here – Nathan rounding up all his fellow heroes, the return to normal life for Peter – but I can’t help but think it will all come crashing down. Rant of the weekHuge amounts of props go out to “Lost” for fully embracing its sci-fi geek roots and not worrying about mainstream audiences. Armed with a set end date and a built-in cult following that will never waiver, the show’s creative team introduced intelligent time-travel rules to the show during last week’s premiere and did so in confusing “Lost” fashion. Yet I’ve never been happier with the show because they’re so willing to honor the fans that have stuck with the show through the good (seasons one and four) and the bad (the six-episode pod that began season three.) Throughout the two-hour premiere, longtime fans and rapid discussers of the show were given numerous shout-outs that the general audience will never pick up on. That’s why I love this show.
(01/22/09 4:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Now that we’re knee-deep in new television programming, it can be difficult to choose which shows to watch live, which to TiVo and which to skip altogether. That’s where I come in. For the rest of the semester, I’ll be providing my diligently researched opinion on what should be watched for that respective week, along with my personal thoughts on an issue that has caught my attention. What to watch, 01/25 – 01/31“Fringe,” “The No-Brainer,” Tuesday at 9 p.m. on FOX – This episode’s premise doesn’t scream anything beyond the “Fringe” norm (a murder liquefying brains), but the recent promises we’ve heard about the show kicking it into new mythological gear for the second half of the season should have you tuning in. “Fringe” might not be “Lost,” but there are plenty of mysteries and intriguing connections to take in.“Lost,” “Jughead,” Wednesday at 9 p.m. on ABC – After the amazing two-hour premiere last night that set the stage for the Oceanic 6’s return to the island and boat-load of time travel, look for this episode to be a fan favorite due to its emphasis on Desmond, Daniel and big bad Charles Widmore (No Oceanic 6 in this one). I’ve also heard rumblings about a significant death among the main cast. What to TiVo“The Last Templar” Part II, Monday at 9 p.m. on NBC – I’m typically not a fan of miniseries stunts, but this one has a substantial pedigree. The book it is based on was on The New York Times Bestseller list for 22 weeks, the producers behind it have won Emmys for their previous miniseries work and the cast (Mira Sorvino, Scott Foley and Victor Garber) thought it was good enough to sign on. “Life on Mars,” “Take a Look at the Lawmen,” Wednesday on ABC at 10 p.m. – This remake of a British hit of the same name has been the most enjoyable new show of the season. And after a two-month long break, “Mars” is back with more of Sam Tyler’s time travel-tinged stories that also mix in great “cop show” elements that make it a perfect watch after a night of comedy on NBC. Rant of the weekI’m not sure how to feel about the supposed reboot of “Heroes” during its second half this year. It’s great to see Bryan Fuller – who powered season one’s creative direction – back in the writer’s room, but there’s absolutely no trust between the audience and the writers. We’ve heard this speech from the show this past fall, and the first arc of the year was a complete mess that led to execs Jeph Loeb and Jesse Alexander being axed. “Heroes” doesn’t need a half-cocked reboot; it needs to be canceled. Though the show was a phenomenon in its first season, it was never because it had great writing. Audiences were wrapped up in the “superheroes on TV” gimmick, the “Save the Cheerleader, Save the World” catchphrase and Masi Oka’s cuteness.The writing on “Heroes” has always been mediocre, and the characters are always changing motives. And the unwillingness to kill off characters just because they’re popular or attractive – hello, Sylar and whomever Ali Larter is playing now – has stymied the writing even more. Until the show kills off most of the cast and fires most of the writing staff, “Heroes” will continue to be a mess, so why not save us all the trouble and cancel it now?
(01/21/09 2:29am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Spoiler alert: People watch TV shows online nowadays.Each major network’s Web site includes a substantial video and episode gallery, and co-op Web sites, such as Hulu, a joint venture between News Corp. and NBC Universal, are bringing more and more content to the Web.Up until now, viewers and users have seen this democratizing of content as nothing but a great change with the technology. Clearly there are benefits when the networks provide full episodes online. We don’t have to watch the program live or worry about setting the DVR, and the “related content” features help us find more in just a click.We’ve all been able to embrace this move toward more online TV, because the networks behind them see great visitor ratings and ad revenue. During Gov. Sarah Palin’s stint as the Republican vice presidential candidate and the subsequent parodies by Tina Fey and “Saturday Night Live,” Hulu experienced more than 5 million unique viewers each month. Hulu’s online ad sales for the fourth quarter in 2008 were up compared to 2007, and the same results were seen by CBS and ABC’s video pages.But as the market for online video gets more competitive and the money gets tighter, things are going to become very interesting. There are quite a few issues that have complicated and will continue to complicate the online video sector.First of all, the major legal issues between the competing factions will continue to disrupt free video-watching use for everyone. When each major network or faction (YouTube is owned by Google) owns a major video-hosting Web site, there are going to be battles over copyright issues.Good luck searching for an “SNL” clip on YouTube. If you do find something a few hours after the broadcast, be certain that the video will soon “no longer be available due to a copyright infringement claim by NBC Universal.” It’s understandable for Hulu to protect its content, but what about those people outside the United States who can only access YouTube?Second, Hulu’s success is going to make the content division even larger. CBS recently purchased former TV info headquarters TV.com and hopes to turn it into its own version of Hulu. It’s smart for CBS to set itself up to compete with Hulu, but purchasing a news portal and slowly turning it into its own hub isn’t the way to do it. It wouldn’t surprise me if CBS keeps the news of TV.com while slowly emphasizing its own content.Moves like this signal that the Web video market will eventually be just like network TV with each section clearly divided and continuous battles over content and ad revenue. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it’s sad to see the networks use the same business model on the Internet so quickly. And when ad revenues look to be down this year, who knows what they’ll fight over in 2009.
(01/15/09 4:34am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>With the new year upon us, it’s time for quality television programs to return. And though typically in the earlier months of each year we don’t have much to look forward to when it comes to new shows, 2009 is different. Last year’s writer’s strike pushed most new show development back from the fall until now. Let’s take a look at both the veteran shows returning for another season and the brand new shows debuting for the first time.Veteran shows finally returning“24”– Season seven of this roller-coaster actioner began this week on FOX after an extended break. The strike kept the show off of the air last season, and the last episode aired way back in May of 2007. The wait has been a long one for “24” fans, who were disappointed with a terrible sixth season, but a change of scenery from L.A. to D.C. and the return of crowd favorite Tony Almeida (Carlos Bernard) makes this show a must-watch again. “Friday Night Lights” – Left for dead by NBC after last year’s strike-shortened run, the show was saved by DirecTV, who swooped in to salvage the high school football-centric “Lights” by splitting the production costs with the “Peacock Network” in exchange for the rights to air season three’s episodes first. Now that 13 episodes have showed there, they’re ready for primetime. This is one of the best-written and best-acted shows to come along in some time, so watch and hopefully there will be a fourth season.“Lost” – The most anticipated premiere of the new year (Jan. 21) is, of course, this fantastically dense show that’s introduced so many game changers that it’s hard to keep them all straight. With this being the penultimate season, look for fast-paced plot development, confusing timelines and a load of additional questions. New shows set to debut“Dollhouse” – The man behind “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel” and “Firefly,” Joss Whedon – who also has a tremendous amount of fanboy love – is back with a new show about people who can have their memory wiped an infinite amount of times to become whoever their bosses need them to be – lovers, killers, etc. “Dollhouse” is surely the most buzzed-about new show, but countless behind-the-scenes issues between Whedon’s creative staff and FOX have many worried about the show’s quality. Not to mention it has been given the Friday night time slot of death when it premieres in February. Expect it to be engrossing, but ultimately off-balance, and pray it doesn’t get canceled before any answers are revealed. “Lie to Me” – FOX finds itself in a great position this winter since they have the two shows that look the most interesting: “Dollhouse” and this procedural drama about a body language expert assisting the cops in solving cases. “Lie” seems like a cross between “Bones” and the season’s only big hit, “The Mentalist.” And it will follow “American Idol,” so expect major ratings. “Kings” – Sure, it might not premiere until March, but this modern-day twist on the biblical story of King David has the industry buzzing and NBC hoping that “Kings” can help it regain viewers. The show’s pedigree is solid – the pilot is directed by “I Am Legend” director Francis Lawrence and it stars the awesome Ian McShane – so it’s all about execution. This could end up very cool, or it could end up like “Crusoe.”
(01/14/09 5:06am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>If seven adults picked up this edition of the paper, only six of them could read it.That’s because, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Education, one in seven adults in the United States is illiterate. That’s nearly 32 million Americans. And while the most recent figures are from 2003, one could imagine that the literacy among adults hasn’t gotten much better over the past five years. Obviously, in a country this large, it’s expected – albeit depressing – that some adults would not be able to read. But 32 million is an extraordinarily large number that most people probably would not believe if randomly told.This report is just another example of how the United States, the supposed major power in the world, is far behind in educating its people in comparison to other influential countries. The report presents conflicting figures on educational information: The literacy rates for both men and women are said to be near 99 percent, yet facts like the one above – and that only about 70 percent of the American students who start ninth grade each year make it all the way through high school – paint a different picture. That information seems fairly conflicting, don’t you think?Moreover, in a time with economic land mines going off on a daily basis and workers getting laid off all the time, this new information proves we have a much larger problem than a weak stock market.A significant number of the unemployed workers in this country might in fact lack the proper tools such as the ability to read and write at an expected level. At the same time, many of those individuals are also from low-income families and areas that prevent them from having the resources to improve their education, and therefore keep them from making their lives better. Even if the new administration creates loads of jobs, if there are not enough people qualified for them, what’s the real point? How is this not troubling?Though President-elect Barack Obama has consistently placed education reform such as altering No Child Left Behind and making college more affordable at the top of his to-do list, it looks as though the struggling economy will take up more of his attention and force the continued slashing of education budgets at the state level. This might mean that he won’t get to his education platform for a while, and the horrendous economic climate might stall those plans flat-out.It might be a tough pill to swallow, but it’s pretty clear that there’s an education problem in the United States. We’re all easily swerved when we read information that touts 99 percent literacy rates, but those figures deserve an asterisk. If 32 million adults couldn’t read in 2003 and education budgets continue to be cut while our supposedly education-friendly president-elect worries about the economy, the education of our people is only going to get worse.
(12/11/08 3:17am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The entertainment industry has had its ups and downs this year, as 2008 played out like a story full of both failures and successes. Here are three events that made 2008 memorable.• The Writer’s Guild of America Strike – Though it ended in the middle of February, the WGA strike disrupted the film and television industries in ways that we probably don’t yet understand.The writers bargained for more residual money in the increasing online arenas. They didn’t get more than the initial offer, and it’s arguable the strike was even worth it, especially considering the damage done: production stoppages, layoffs, $500 million in opportunity costs, $1.5 billion for Los Angeles and lost credibility.The TV industry was hit the hardest, as shows that returned from the strike in the spring faced weaker ratings, the new pilot season had little to no time to develop and shows held over from fall ’07 failed miserably when they finally made it back in September.The film industry survived, but production logjams can’t be good, and movies that couldn’t do re-writes during the strike have been hurt critically (“Quantum of Solace”).• “The Dark Knight” – After the murky initial months of 2008, the audience needed something to capture its attention, and not many would have predicted that it would be the Dark Knight himself. Although everyone saw it as a tent pole release, no one expected that the sequel to “Batman Begins” would rake in the biggest day and weekend grosses ever, be the fastest film to $500 million and become a bona fide critical darling.“The Dark Knight” proved that in today’s pirated Internet culture, audiences are still willing to see a movie in theaters on multiple occasions and that critical acclaim and financial success are not mutually exclusive.Its effects on the industry will be everlasting. Comic book heroes will infiltrate the silver screen even more in the future, and they’ll be developed with care not seen in most adaptations.Hopefully the film will encourage other filmmakers to put increased effort into sequels in hopes of improving upon the originals. Finally, director Christopher Nolan had the gumption to shoot sequences in IMAX, and that trend will only continue.• The 2008 Presidential Election – No drama is more appealing than real drama, and boy, did the election provide that for audiences all over the world. The industry took full advantage of this, ensuring that the two candidates were somehow involved with everything from “SportsCenter” to “Saturday Night Live.”And don’t forget the ratings boost the news networks saw during election season. The three presidential debates were watched by 57 million, 63.2 million and 56.5 million viewers each night, while 69.9 million watched Joe Biden and Sarah Palin face off. On election night, 71.5 million tuned in for the results. Entertainment junkies will forever remember these capstone events.Hopefully, 2009 will provide moments that are just as exciting.
(12/10/08 7:27pm)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>From union strikes to decreased album sales and TV ratings, 2008 played out more like a series of industrial catastrophes than a typical period full of critical highs and lows. All the downtrodden stories that weighed down the industry in 2008 were saved by two events: the presidential election and the release of “The Dark Knight.” Both those cultural phenomena will be nonfactors in 2009, and there appears to be nothing nearly as important coming to replace them. We hope that we have provided you with the people, events and pop culture that have defined 2008. Now here’s a look forward to what could shape in the next 12 months. The effects of a sluggish economy The effects of the atrocious economic conditions have yet to disrupt the entertainment industry on as wide a scale as they have in others industries. But in 2009, the economic downturn will rear its head. Media conglomerate Viacom just announced layoffs of more than 800 employees, NBC Universal is cutting $500 million from next year’s budget and Viacom’s Paramount Pictures is shrinking its slate from 25 movies a year to 20.The cost to make blockbuster films and high-priced TV shows has increased over time and next year seems like it could be the time, that it could all come to a head. Especially considering that people aren’t watching TV shows as much live, therefore decreasing the ad revenue most networks are getting. The film industry might not be hit as hard, but one would imagine that if audiences have less money in their pockets, they will be unwilling to pay $12 to watch a movie. 2008 looks to be only the fifth year since 1980 that will have a total box office return decrease from the previous year, and with a lackluster slate of flicks coming, 2009 will only further the problems.The music industry will continue to suffer not only because of the financial crisis, but because it doesn’t know how to re-invent itself quite yet. Record sales will only drop more, and increasing concert ticket sales won’t work as a stop-gap measure. A depressing lack of capstone releasesThere’s another reason why the industry will probably face more layoffs and cutbacks: 2009 doesn’t have anything epic to offer audiences. On the film side of things, there’s nothing nearly as cool as “The Dark Knight” on the horizon. The year will bring us the newest “Harry Potter” flick, a revamped “Star Trek” and a slew of dumb sequels: “Wolverine,” “Fast & Furious” and “Angels & Demons.” The only film with buzzworthy possibilities is “Watchmen,” but it’s unclear whether or not mainstream audiences will enjoy it or the fanboys can deal with the adjustments made to the film version.Measuring what will happen in the TV industry at this point is impossible, but if the last few years are any indication, the new shows that will make it to air will most likely be either horrible or fail to find an audience. Since the glory season of 2004-05 that gave us “Lost,” “House,” “The Office,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Desperate Housewives,” there has been next to nothing that has made it on the air that has been successful or good. Another strike loomsWe all know how much havoc the Writers Guild of America strike reeked on the entertainment industry, and the one by the Screen Actors Guild could have similar effects. Though the SAG has ignored strike talks since the contract ended in June, SAG brass recently called for strike authorization because they cannot come to terms with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Though they probably have more money than the writers, actors are also probably more willing not to work in hopes of winning this Hollywood power struggle. This means the 100-day writer’s strike will pale in comparison to what could happen in 2009 with this SAG strike. If and when the strike happens, we’ll see production cease across the board. Just like last time, the TV industry will be irrevocably damaged, but the film side will take a bigger hit this time. Film projects will be delayed for an extended period of time, causing the next few years to be bare in terms of high-profile releases.We have had a rough year, but 2009 could be much worse. The entertainment industry will finally feel the effects of the economy, and internal problems will only multiply those issues tenfold. In the time audiences need an escape most, the entertainment world could fail to give it to us.
(12/10/08 7:24pm)
Three WEEKEND reviewers discuss the newest tracks in music.
(12/04/08 4:57am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>December 21, 2012: the day the world ends.Or at least that’s what various experts (or conspiracy theorists, depending on your view) want us all to believe. And there is certainly intriguing information that would back up those claims.First of all, there’s the fact that the ancient Mayan calendar either ends on that day or at least poses the idea of a world-altering event occurring. Then there is astrologer John Jenkins’ assertion that on that date, the northern hemisphere winter solstice sun will cross with the galactic equator. Put simply, some very interesting and crazy developments point out that at the least, 12/21/2012 will be the most anticipated day since 01/01/00.But that’s where all the talk should stop. People have taken the 2012 ball and run so fast with it, it’s ridiculous. Planetary movements and ancient civilization prophecies are one thing, but turning those partially legitimate facts into global pandemics, super volcanos and mutated humans caused by gamma ray infection (people are actually talking about this stuff happening) is a whole other animal. Even for deep conspiracy theory believers like me, the 2012 hyperbole is too much.One of the worst parts about all of the 2012 talk is that by the time it gets here, the expectations will be so high that there’s no way the day can live up to the nutty predictions. Just like Y2K, people could be talked in to such insane things that the real problems could come from pockets of panic.It baffles me why it’s so important for people to scare the living daylights out of others with all this information. Yes, it could be true that an apocalypse could occur on December 21, 2012, but it could just as easily happen tonight when we’re sleeping. There may be a few special quirks that make it more appealing to label 2012 as the end of days, but there isn’t enough to warrant all of this.This hype is one of the reasons people don’t believe certain theories; They all start with fact, but then certain individuals have to take the theory those extra steps and turn them into a series of wild events until no one can even remember the legitimate information in the first place.But even worse, there’s really no reason why the end of the Mayan calendar should be an integral topic of discussion today, in 2008.Don’t we have enough to worry about? We’re officially in a recession, there’s constant worry of terrorism and war all around the globe and climate issues could destroy our children’s future.Proponents of the 2012 theories would say this is all just a lead-in to the carnage ahead and that current events are putting the 2012 possibilities into context. But I’d say it’s because the world is just in trouble, now, today, and will continue to be in the future. And I don’t need a calendar to tell me that.
(11/20/08 3:48am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>People who watch lots of hours of TV are lazy slugs. People who watch too much TV don’t educate themselves enough and fail to relate with other people.These are the type of statements critics and cynics have been saying about perpetual TV viewers for so many years. But now a new study has revealed another title that can supposedly be added to the list: unhappy. A new extensive study by the University of Maryland that collected more than 34 years of data from more than 30,000 people found that watching TV might make people happy in the short run but is likely to lead to long-term unhappiness. “TV is not judgmental nor difficult, so people with few social skills or resources for other activities can engage in it,” the study states. “Furthermore, chronic unhappiness can be socially and personally debilitating and can interfere with work and most social and personal activities, but even the unhappiest people can click a remote and be passively entertained by a TV. In other words, the causal order is reversed for people who watch television; unhappiness leads to television viewing.”Now this all might be true, but as an individual who watches an immeasurable amount of television and schedules both his classes and personal life around certain shows, I can’t help but be disheartened by the beating that TV takes. For years, the word on uber TV consumers was that they were wasting their brain power on a series of bright colors, loud noises, sexual images and various other stimulations. During the ’80s and ’90s, that was probably true. There were not too many groundbreaking television programs that made audiences think back then.But it’s a little different now.In the last number of years, TV has become more and more intelligent, gritty and gripping. There are shows on the air now that actually make viewers think, like “Lost,” or ones that portray realistic insights into the world around us, like “The Wire.” Moreover, the old adage about crazy TV viewers having no connection to others doesn’t really apply anymore either. Though it may not always result in face-to-face communication, damn near every show on TV has its own online cult community. The members spend hours discussing the their favorite shows. The Internet has allowed for TV fans to find people who enjoy the same shows and strike up a conversation with utter ease.And as for this new study, their effort and sheer amount of research are certainly there. It’s not that I don’t believe the study’s findings, it’s just that I can see how the findings can reopen the discussion about how “bad” television is for people, and that isn’t completely true. Clearly, spending your entire life in front of a TV isn’t going to give you a fair share of life experiences or happiness, but it’s certainly not going to be the only reason for overwhelming sadness. TV isn’t the evil technology it once was, and it’s time people realize that.